Turkeys in Paradise: By the Numbers

Thanks to you, Hive, I have a focus for my next few posts...Hawaiian honeymoon recaps!!

It was a tight race, but 51% of you (as of 8PM EST) asked for those recaps first. For the other voters, I promise that my remaining wedding-related posts will not be forgotten.

Photos of wedding-related posts still to come : parent gifts, welcome booklet, tasting

Like Porcupine, I could probably write countless posts on our tropical honeymoon. But you don't care that much...and this is a wedding blog, after all! So, I decided to take a page from her book and break it up into a few key categories: food, fun...splurges and sun.

Mr. Turkey and I also plan to share some tips (you know I love tips). There were some things we did really right, but also others we would change if given the option to honeymoon again*!

With views like this, you can understand why we want to go back (Manele Bay, Lana'i, Hawaii)

On Wedding Day Weather

I thought about saving this post for closer to my actual wedding recaps, but then I remembered that June was one of the most popular wedding months (we have 5 bloggers celebrating in June: Coyote, Fox, Mink, Unicycle, Wizard) and thought the advice could come in handy!

I wrote back in February how I was considering options for inclement weather. Well, as the wedding got closer, I was actually preparing for a small flood...and cold. April and May were pretty mixed in Philadelphia and I didn't want to be caught unaware!

At a Phillies game in mid-April...FREEZING

A Clean Cut

Hi Hive!

We're officially back from our honeymoon and have lots to tell you, both about the wedding and our Hawaiian vacation. However, before we go down either of those paths, I wanted to share how I made a "clean cut" from Miss to Mrs.

It was back in December that I b*tched complained about my hair and strong dislike for growing it out for the wedding 'do.

Well, five more months of bad hair days followed me.

Anyone know how to photoshop out hair? (photo from our last "unmarried" weekend)

To Follow or Not to Follow (The Registry) - Part II

Based on your advice, I ended up deciding on the honeymoon themed gift for A's shower!

However, I did not consider the complexity that came with such a specific gift, so I thought I'd share the steps with you all...in case you decide to give a similar gift!

Warning - I get a little cheeky here!

The Lasts...and the Firsts

You go through a lot of "lasts" before the wedding hits, but I think reality really clicked in when Mr. Turkey and I celebrated our final weekend before becoming Mr. & Mrs.

Although perhaps we should have been doing some wedding related tasks, we decided instead to enjoy the time...and celebrate some "firsts" during our last weekend of singledom.

Last minute details

Other Bees (like Hawk, recently) have gone into detail on bathroom baskets and there are plenty of tutorials on out of town bags, so I decided to combine these "last minute details" into a single post.

Despite collecting materials for weeks beforehand, both these details were truly pulled together in the final days before the wedding. I kept reminding myself that they were "nice to haves" not "need to haves", which kept it pretty light.

First up...bathroom baskets.

Male version on the left, female version on the left

Talented Relatives

There are many Bees who engage "friendors" for some of their key wedding tasks - from photography to caterering, makeup artistry to graphic design.

We didn't have those talents in our arsenal, but we do have two very special guests lending their gifts to our wedding celebration in different ways.

I'll back up a little bit...on Turkey Mom's side of the family, I am the oldest of 9 cousins, by a bit. When the next oldest cousin (we're excluding Turkey Brother here) turns 21, I will have just hit the big 3-0. However, despite the age difference, we've all remained pretty close. In many ways, our relationship has been more like siblings than typical cousins (I was the "big sister").

At Christmas 2012 (7 of the 9): L, G, Brother Turkey, L, N, Miss Turkey, M

In a perfect world, I would have loved to include the 4 lovely ladies above in my bridal party, but we opted for a (relatively) small number of attendants. However, it was constantly in the back of my head to find a way to include them.

The Search for the Dress - Part IV

AKA saying YES to the dress!!!

That's right, after keeping you all in the dark about my dress for 11 months...and teasing you here, here and here (phew)...I'm finally ready to reveal it. Figured it was safe since, you know, we're married and all!

WARNING: this is a photo heavy post (that's what happens when you hide your dress)!

So, it was back in June that I went to Kleinfeld's in NYC with my bridesmaids and Turkey Mom to look at dresses (just to narrow down choices) and ended up finding THE dress.

With the bridesmaids

Now, as an avid "Say Yes to the Dress" watcher, I expected the lobby (and showroom) at Kleinfeld's to be much bigger than it was in actuality. It's quite small, to be honest. We were matched with Lisa, a consultant who is not on SYTTD, but was absolutely fabulous!

First, you're only allowed to bring in 5 guests, but she was kind enough to allow us a 6th person (would have been very sad to make one of the bridesmaids sit in the lobby). We all crammed into the dressing room and talked about budget, dress choices and even Mr. Turkey! Then everyone was let loose to browse the showroom for options.

Officially Mr. & Mrs.!!

As my post mentioned yesterday, Mr. Turkey and I went and tied the knot on Saturday!!

The giant smiles were a staple on both our faces all day (friend photo)

It was an absolutely amazing day - without question the best of both our lives.

It's for real now!

Can't wait to tell you all about it, but this was just a quick pop in before we head to Hawaii for 2 weeks of fun in the sun! There are multiple posts scheduled while we're away so you'll barely notice I'm gone. I'll share one more sneak peek of the wedding before signing off...

At the conclusion of our first dance (friend photo)

See you soon,
MRS. Turkey!!

Happy Mother's Day

This Mother's Day is extra special. Why, you ask?

Last family photo without Mr. Turkey!

Well, yesterday was our wedding day* (we'll make the assumption it happened since I wrote this a few days ago - haha!) and, besides being a celebration of the love between me and Mr. Turkey, the day also marks the end of a very special journey in my relationship with Turkey Mom.

You see, Turkey Mom and I have always been close, but, despite the odds, the wedding brought us closer together.

Visiting my college campus before bridal shower #1

Too often I feel as though you hear stories of brides at odds with their family (particularly mothers) as they work to plan a wedding. Some feel as though their mother is trying to make it their wedding, while others don't feel as though there's enough involvement.

Are You Going Crazy (Yet)?

I lied to you, Bees. I said that I thought "What Have You Done So Far?" was the second most asked question during your engagement. Well, in the last couple weeks, I believe that the title of this blog has moved into the runner-up slot.

Yes, we're down to the wire, but the fact that this would drive me into a crazed Bridezilla-esque frenzy (after months of not exhibiting these behaviors)...or rather that people would assume it would...well, it's maddening.

Wedding-itis

With days, rather than weeks, before the wedding...Mr. Turkey and I are ready. Ready to be married. Ready to hop on a plane to Hawaii. Ready to be DONE.

Yup, we officially have "wedding-itis".

Totally over it.

A Fun...and Funny...Bachelorette Weekend!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the only event standing between us and the wedding was my bachelorette party...it always seemed so far away, but before I knew it, I was packing for a weekend in Florida. 

Repeat after me..."NO.TAN.LINES."

I arrived in Palm Beach without incident, where I hung out by myself at the airport, waiting for Bridesmaids C and D to arrive. 

Not much going on at PBI Thursday night

When Bridesmaid C arrived, we headed to the long term parking lot to pick up the car. Bridesmaid D's mother had kindly left the "Florida car" there, unlocked, for us to use. Seemed easy enough....

Something's not quite right when your stuff is outside the car

Not so much...which brings us to funny event #1: being locked out of the car! The sherif's office had noticed the unlocked car and (so kindly) locked the door...which is where the keys were*. Oops! Luckily, AAA arrived shortly and we were on our way!

We had to display the note on the fridge!

Giving Back to Your Entourage (part II)

Early on in my blogging, I shared with you how, as a bridesmaid, I put together a goody bag for a bride's entourage at her bachelorette. Well, as my bachelorette approached, I started brainstorming gift ideas for the lovely ladies that would be joining me in the sun.

It started with a couple themes...blue & green + weekend away. Blue & green are our wedding colors and, since we were all flying down to Florida, it worked!

The first item I found was a frame that fit perfectly.

Lilly Pulitzer frame

I thought it would be fun to have a framed picture from the weekend for everyone to display....which matched with the online description "strike a pose and frame your favorite photo in colorful patterns that will bring a bit of Palm Beach to your mantel" (even better...Jupiter is right by Palm Beach).

So close...

In case you didn't know...


Sent to me by Bridesmaid D - does this not brighten your day?

As Turkey Mom, reminded me, May is the month when I "will again dress in white and go to church surrounded by family and loved ones."


Miss Turkey's christening...circa 1982

Yup...wedding month is here! Last minute preparations are upon us and, before I know it, our date will be featured on the evil 10 day forecast (I'm so ready for that, though). Oh right, and I get to marry Mr. Turkey!


My white dress looks a tad different...and I can promise you Mr. Turkey won't be wearing a tux with shorts!

Calling all May brides...how are your last minute preparations going?